Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that every grade 7 student should learn. This grammatical rule states that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. In simpler terms, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular too, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural as well.
For instance, take the sentence, “The boy play soccer.” The subject is “the boy,” which is singular, while the verb is “play,” which is plural. This sentence is incorrect as the subject and verb do not agree in number. The correct sentence should be, “The boy plays soccer,” where the singular subject “boy” agrees with the singular verb “plays.”
Similarly, for plural subjects, the verb should be plural. For instance, “The boys plays soccer,” is an incorrect sentence. Instead, it should be “The boys play soccer,” as the plural subject “boys” agrees with the plural verb “play.”
Here are some essential tips for grade 7 students to master the subject-verb agreement rule:
1. Identify the subject and verb in a sentence: Before attempting to determine whether they agree, you need to know what the subject and verb are in the sentence.
2. Check for intervening words between the subject and verb: Sometimes, adjectives, prepositional phrases, or other words may come between the subject and the verb, making it more challenging to determine whether they agree. However, it`s essential to ignore these words and focus on the subject and verb.
3. Remember that compound subjects take plural verbs: When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” they form a compound subject and take a plural verb. For example, “Maria and her sisters like to swim.”
4. Be aware of indefinite pronouns: Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “somebody,” and “anybody” take singular verbs, while “both,” “few,” and “many” take plural verbs.
In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for grade 7 students as they continue to develop their writing skills. This lesson will help them build a strong foundation in English grammar, which they can apply throughout their academic and professional careers. By following the tips outlined above, grade 7 students can confidently write grammatically correct sentences that demonstrate their mastery of this vital grammar rule.